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Microcomputer having a nonvolatile memory which stores a plurality of BIOSes

a microcomputer and biosequence technology, applied in the field of microcomputers, can solve problems such as security and functions that cannot be used simultaneously, and achieve the effects of enhancing security, reducing the board area of notebook pcs, and improving usability

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-11-04
RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORP +1
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a microcomputer that can reduce the board area of a notebook PC, enhance security, and improve usability. The microcomputer has a nonvolatile memory that stores three programs: a control BIOS, a keyboard / power management BIOS, and a system BIOS. The first program has the means for setting read / write security protect, and the LPC performs functions to read and update the programs. The microcomputer also allows for the selection of pin functions and modes of address mapping and interrupt vector table. The technical effects of the invention include reducing board area and improving security and usability.

Problems solved by technology

Further, since the system BIOS is built in the chip of a flash memory, it has a problem of security.
Moreover, since a single terminal is provided with several functions in order to reduce the number of terminals, there are many pin multiplexes, and there is a problem that some of functions cannot be used simultaneously.

Method used

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  • Microcomputer having a nonvolatile memory which stores a plurality of BIOSes
  • Microcomputer having a nonvolatile memory which stores a plurality of BIOSes
  • Microcomputer having a nonvolatile memory which stores a plurality of BIOSes

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Embodiment Construction

[0029]Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiment, and the repetitive description thereof will be omitted.

[0030]First, an example of the entire configuration of a microcomputer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a microcomputer.

[0031]The microcomputer according to this embodiment is, for example, a microcomputer in a keyboard / power management controller and comprises modules including a central processing unit CPU, a clock oscillator CPG, a flash memory ROM, a random access memory RAM, a direct memory access controller DMAC, a bus controller BSC, an LPC interface LPC, an interrupt controller INT, an 8-bit PWM timer PWM, a 14-bit PWM timer PWM...

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PUM

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Abstract

A microcomputer capable of reducing a board area, enhancing the security, and improving the usability is provided. A microcomputer to be used in a notebook PC is disclosed, in which programs of a keyboard / power management BIOS and a system BIOS are stored in a built-in flash memory ROM. In order to set read (R) / write (W) protect to the BIOSes stored in the flash memory ROM, a read / write protect setting register is provided, and at initial setting after the release of reset, flags of R / W permission, R permission / W prohibition, W permission / R prohibition, and R / W prohibition are set to this register by a central processing unit CPU. By doing so, it becomes possible to achieve protection such as the prevention of error writing of the BIOS and the like between a host machine and the flash memory ROM via a LPC bus.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2003-310126 filed on Sep. 2, 2003, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a microcomputer, more specifically, it relates to a technique advantageous when applied to a microcomputer in a keyboard / power management controller of a notebook personal computer (notebook PC) and the likes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]According to the examinations by the inventors of the present invention, techniques as follows are known in the field of microcomputers in notebook PCs.[0004]For example, in a notebook PC according to the prior art, a microcomputer in a keyboard / power management controller is provided with a keyboard BIOS that controls key scan and input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse and a power management BIOS that controls a battery and a fan, and ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G06F9/22G06F11/00G06F12/14G06F15/177G06F15/78
CPCG06F1/32G06F1/24
Inventor OSHIBA, MASASHISATO, YOSHIAKIYAMAKAWA, KENTAROYAMAKI, YOKOKISHI, HIROSHI
Owner RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORP
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